Abstract

SALAS, Jorge. Presence of Phthorimaea operculella and Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), captured in pheromone traps, In tomato plantings at Quíbor, Venezuela. Bioagro [online]. 2007, vol.19, n.3, pp.143-147. ISSN 1316-3361.

Population of potato tuberworm moth Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller) and tomato budworm Tuta (=Scrobipalpula) absoluta Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) was evaluated in experimental plots of tomato Lycopersicon esculentum Mill., located at Quíbor, Lara State, Venezuela, during 2001,2002 and 2003. Such evaluation was based on the capture of males of both species in specific pheromone traps. Big and small males were collected, separated by size and preserved in 70% alcohol for slide mountings of the genitalia. Results showed that P. operculella was the predominant species (P≤0.05) while T. absoluta showed very low population levels. It was found that, regardless of their size, specimens captured in each trap with specific pheromone, belonged to the same species.

Keywords : Population dynamics; genitalia; Lycopersicon esculentum; IPM; potato tuberworm moth.